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A blond man stands in front of the camera.
"I'm Ryland Grace, but most people just call me Grace. I'm thirty-two years old, and I work as a middle school science teacher."
Grace begins to wave his hands around as he talks.
"I flipped back and forth on applying to be here for a while. On one hand, if any of my students' parents watch this and start asking me questions I will die from mortification. On the other scheduling happened to line up with summer break, and- well, maybe I should back up some. So my best buddy, Rocky, his marriage was arranged. And him and his spouse have the most loving relationship I have ever seen. Im talking fairytale, movie romance-like level. And, well, recently I've started to want that."
Grace rubs his arm in a self-soothing motion.
"I've actually spent a lot of time keeping people out, and only recently starting to let people in. It started with Rocky, and two years ago I managed to reconnect with my brother. And, just, it would be nice to come home to someone, you know? I spend all day with rowdy children and I come home to a silent apartment and grade papers. I'd really like to spend that time with someone. Have quiet evenings in and not wanna go on a date at starting at eight PM because on teacher schedule I have to go to bed pretty early and- and I tend to talk a lot. I hope who they set me up with won't mind that."
Grace laughs a little at himself.
"Anyways, in the end my brother secretly applied for me. So, here I am."
"My name is Simon Fischer. I'm twenty-nine years old and currently working as a florist."
In the frame is a bearded man with long dark hair. There is some discoloration or scarring on the left side of his face, mostly hidden by his hair.
"I'm hoping to find someone who I can listen to talk, but also respects my opinions on things. And hopefully doesn't mind the way I look."
The camera shows close ups of his facial scaring and left arm.
"I used to work on a oil rig, there was a accident. It's led to a lot of changes for me. Some include people staring wherever I go, awkward conversations, the like. It makes first dates and putting yourself out there a new level of uncomfortable."
The camera returns to interview framing.
"I applied to the show because if anyone can find a match for me, it would be the top experts."
Sequences of the wedding venue and guests play.
Grace, in a dark blue suit, appears sick.
"I'm so nervous. Why am I doing this? I think I'm going to throw up."
A hand wrapped around a glass cup with brown liquid crosses into frame. The camera zooms out, showing another man. His features are identical to Grace's, with the exception of a crooked nose, short beard, and lighter blond hair. He wears a dark suit with sunglasses hooked in the breast pocket.
"Drink this. It'll help."
Grace takes the glass and raises it halfway to his mouth before pausing, "This is not water."
The man huffs while reaching out to adjust Grace's suit jacket, "No shit, Sherlock. It's whiskey. Drink up."
"Colt-"
"Is this the suit Jody hooked you up with? It looks good."
Grace starts fiddling with the cuffs, "Yeah, it is. The stars were a nice touch. Hey-"
Colt reaches into the inside of the jacket and pulls out a pair of eyeglasses. He puts them on Grace's face, "You better wear these. Don't want you tripping down the aisle. Besides, it weird enough seeing you shaved."
"I shave for work all the time, you're just used to looking in the mirror."
Colt smirks and gently slaps the shoulder of the arm not holding the drink.
"Everyone is nervous on their wedding day. Jody was chugging wine with the girls on mine."
Grace huffs a laugh, "You weren't nervous. You were so excited you puked."
Colt waves his hand, "I'm special. I get set on fire at least four times a year. I've conditioned myself to turn anxiety into adrenaline. Besides, I was nervous enough during the second proposal to last the rest of our relationship."
The scene switches to Simon. He is wearing a red suit over a black dress shirt. There is floral embroidery on the jacket lapels. The left sleeve is tailored to end closed where his arm ends.
"How am I feeling? Very out of place."
He fidgets with the collar of the shirt, "I'm not used to wearing fancy clothes."
Simon pauses for a moment.
"I think my mother would have liked it. The fancy decorations and the ballroom. I wish she were here."
The scene returns to Grace and Colt, although they have moved locations and are now standing at a high table, several drinking glasses sat on top.
"So, are you ready to meet your possible soulmate today," Colt says in a way that is clear lines are being fed to him.
"Please. Rocky has declared himself my soulmate and he will fight anyone for that title." Grace turns his head to search the room, "Speaking of Rocky, where is he?"
Colt takes a sip of his margarita, "He's asking everybody if they have a xanax. He's stressing out about you stressing out."
Grace smiles easy, clearly more relaxed than before, "See? Soulmates."
Grace stands with a fountain at his back and a glass of champagne in hand, looking more relaxed than before.
"I don't really have a impression of him yet. He's quiet I guess. I was hoping for a little more of a reaction, honestly. But he was probably just nervous, I sure was."
Grace pushes his glasses to the top of his head, "As for first thoughts, it was simultaneously 'oh it's a man' and 'he has really nice hair'. I didn't know if I was marrying a man or woman today until I was out there. And he has nice hair."
Simon grabs who must be the interviewer and partially pulls him into frame. His shocked face shows more expression than it has all day.
"How did you know? How did you find the one guy thats exactly my type?"
"That wasn't me. But, uh, what is your first impression of him?"
"He's perfect. He looks like a angel carved from marble brought to life with the gait of a newborn fawn. He's got nerdy-ass glasses and the bluest eyes ive ever seen. Start calling me Mister- what was his name?"
"Doctor Ryland Grace."
"Doctor and Mister Ryland Grace. I like that. Start calling me 'Mister Ryland Grace'! WOOOO"
The scene returns to Grace and his champagne glass.
"So how do you feel, now that you're married?" A feminine, off-screen voice says.
"Still very nervous and scared. I can't get out of this without legal help now," Grace nervously laughs, "I hope this wasnt a mistake. And I really hope we'll get along once we actually get to know each other."
"Do you feel any different now that you're married?"
Simon lets go of the interviewer and leans into the camera, "LETS FUCKING GOOOOO!"
Simon continues to speak but no sound comes out of the speakers.
"Let it be noted Simon felt elated," the voiceover of the narrator explained, "he has also used all allotted curse words for the entire season."
"Wow."
The camera shows the couple reclined in their bed atop the covers. Grace, now growing a beard, holds a TV remote in one hand as Simon grabs the pillow behind himself and uses it to hide his face. Grace's expression turns absolutely giddy as he turns to look at Simon.
"Shut up," is the muffled response, captions provided at the bottom of the screen for clarity.
Grace's smile grows wider, "So that's where 'angel' came from?"
High-pitched sounds come from the pillow. This time with no caption as there are no words to transcribe.
Grace laughs.
"I don't think I've ever heard you say that many words at once."
Simon rolls away from his husband, "I was feeling a lot of things!"
"Uh-huh."
Simon drops the pillow to reveal a pink-faced glare. "I had just kissed the sexiest man I'd ever seen while knowing he's not allowed to kiss anyone else BUT me. Shut up."
The show switched back to the wedding day. Several shots of guests dancing were shown. Several included Grace, now properly drunk and pink faced, dancing among the crowd.
A scene of the grooms dancing came on. Both had lost their jackets and Grace his tie, indicating it was well into the party. They appear to be taking turns dipping one another and laughing too hard to complete it.
Grace enters the frame and hands Simon a water bottle, "Sweetheart. Sunshine. Are you still upset?"
Simon makes a 'hmph' noise.
"Oh come on," Grace presses a kiss to his temple, "I think," a kiss under the eye, "it's cute," and several more quick kisses to the side of Simon's face. He doesn't let up until Simon giggles.
Simon reaches out for Grace's chin and pulls Grace in for a short kiss. They both pull away, with Grace surging back in to drop one more quick kiss on Simon's nose.
They both smile before Grace jumps up and shouts, "ZOO WEE MAMA!"
Grace then proceeds to be beaten from behind with every pillow on their bed.
Through Grace's laughter a faint "I should of divorced you!" is heard, and captioned on screen for clarity.
Grace falls down and a pillow hits a lighting fixture instead. There is untranscribed shouting from what must be the production crew as the camera filming tilts down and shows carpet. Grace is still laughing.